Cow Mountain Recreation Area

Named for the wild longhorn cattle of the area, the Cow Mountain Recreation Area is located at 2550 State Street, Ukiah, CA, in Mendocino County. It is a 52,000-acre expanse of rugged terrain consisting mostly of arduous shrub-covered slopes and scattered trees. The recreation area is 115 miles south of San Francisco and 145 miles northwest of Sacramento.

Cow Mountain features miles of streams, views of Ukiah and Clear Lake, as well as over a dozen wildlife reservoirs. Wildlife found in this area include: black tail deer, wild turkey, bear, mountain lions, as well as the more common fox, rabbits and coyotes.

The Recreation Area is divided into three sections: North Cow Mountain, South Cow Mountain and the Sheldon Creek.

North Cow Mountain provides a 17-mile network of trails for many activities such as: horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, camping and hunting. The area also features a developed campground and a rifle range. Off-highway vehicles are not allowed in North Cow Mountain.

The South Cow Mountain area maintains about 120 miles of OHV trails that offer many challenges to all types of all terrain vehicles. This area is subject to closure due to rainy conditions.

Other notable attractions within Ukiah are the Vichy Springs, the Mendocino Brewing Company and the Grace Hudson Museum.